Steering and propelling device



p 2, 1930- J, D. RUSSELL I 4,848

STEERING AND PROPELLING DEVICE Filed July 5 1929 Patented Sept. 2, 1930 I PATENT: ol-rlca JOHN D. RUSSELL, OF BAY CI'LY, MICHIGAN s'runame am) PBOPELLING nn'vren Application filed July is, 1929. Serial 110. 378,001.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in steering and propelling devices, and particularly to a device by means.

of which the rudder may be eliminated, and a vessel positively and accurately propelled and steered either forwardly or rearwardly.

One object of the invention is to provide, in combination with the rudder post, a very simple, light and substantial mechanism,

whereby a vessel so equipped may be positive ly controlled, and which' will ermit vessels of large draft to readily negotiate rivers and streams having sharpturns and bends, without the stopping and backing necessary where a conventional rudder is employed.

Another object is to so mount the propelling and steering mechanism, that the steering can be accomplished in exactly the same manner as at present, and which can be applied to vessels at present in use with a mimmum of time and expense, and without changes to the mechanism with which the rudder is at present controlled.

' With the above and other objects in view,

the present invention'consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that .changesmay be made in the form,

size, proportion and minor details of construction, without departing from the spirit, or

sacrificing any of the advantages ofthe in vention.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side view of the stern ild. of a vessel equipped with my improved propelling and steering mechanism. I

Fig. 2. is a fragmentary top plan view of the steering and propelling mechanism, the dotted lines illustrating it in various adjusted positions.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the propeller shaft and caring and taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. I amaware that the broad idea of eliminating the rudder is not entirely new, butthe present mechanism which makesthis elimination possible, is not entirely practical for vessels of large size, and I have therefore perfected a very sim leand ractical mechanism which can be rea ily app led, and by means of which a vessel can at all times beaccurately and positively controlled. I

Referring now particularly to the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates the stern-end of a vessel which is provided with a conventional vertically disposed rudder post 6, having a tiller 7 on the upper end'thereof in the usual manner, a skeg '8 projects from the keel of the boat and serves as a bearing for the lower end of said post, and a bearing 9 is set near the upper end to facilitate the operation thereof. The longitudinall disposed propeller shaft 10 projects from t e stern of the vessel as usual, and a propeller 11 is keyed thereon, a universal joint 12 being interposed between the vessel and the propeller for a purpose to be resently described.

paced apart stays 13 are rigidly secured to the rudder post in any approved manner, and a' bearing 14 is pivotally mounted on said stays, said bearing including vertically disposed cylindrical turned hub' portions 15, which are pivotally journaled in suitable o enings provided in said stays the rear end 0 the propeller shaft being mounted in said bearing so that as the post is rotated, through instrumentality of the tiller, that the propeller shaft will be free to slide therein, so that it may be turned for steering, and as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

Where a rudder is used for steering, the direction of curren i must be taken into consideration, when the rudder is hard over, no steering action is secured, the rudder acting the same as a fiat board, with the width of the board facing the vessel, also when backing up the rudder is not positive, nor is it when the'vessel does not have a great deal of head way. My improved steering means automatically eliminates all of 1 these disadvantages, and the vessel can be accurately and positively controlled.

From the foregoing descri tion, itwill be obvious that I have perfecte a very simple, practical, and efiicient propelling and steerin mechanism for vessels of all kinds.

hat I claim is 1. A steering and propelling mechanism for boats, including a vertically disposed rudder st, a bearing pivotally carried by said rudd er post, a propeller shaft projecting from the boat and slidably journaled in said bear- 5 ing, a propeller adjacent the bearing, and a universal joint interposed between the boat and the propeller.

2. A steering and propelling mechanism for boats, comprising a rudder post, spaced apart forwardly extending stays secured thereto, a longitudinally disposed bearing pivotally mounted in a vertical plane in said sta s, a propeller shaft slidably journaled in an projecting beyond said bearing, a propeller, and a universal joint interposed between the boat and propeller to permit the swinging of the end section of said shaft.

A steering and propelling mechanism for boats, including a rudder post, spaced apart stays rigidly secured thereto and extending inwardly towards the boat, a bearing formed with vertically disposed hubs pivotally mounted on said stays, a propeller shaft j our naled in and projecting beyond said bearing, a propeller, and a universal joint interposed between the boat and the propeller.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

JOHN D. RUSSELL. 

